Line-spacing mechanism.



H. A. FOOTHORAP.

LINE SPACING MECHANISM.

APPLICATION mmnzc. 4. I914.

Patented Aug. 13, 19.18.

3 SHEETS-SHEET l.

llllillllllllilllllllllllllllllli llllllllllllIllllflllllllllllllllll H. A, FOOTHORAP.

LINE SPACING MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. l4 l9l4- Patented Aug. 13

3 SHEETS-SHUT M CNvM/JN H. A. FOOTHORAP. LINE SPACING MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 14. l9l4- Patented Aug. 13, 1918.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

v nanny ARTHUR noornonanor HARRISBURG,- rnnnsvtvanra, AssIen on 'ro ELLIOTT-FISHER COMPANY, or HARRISBURG, rnnnsynvanm", a conro'nm.

Tron or DELAWARE .To all whom it may concern, .1 p

- Be a known. that AB'IFHUR Foo- THORAP, a citizen .of the .United States of 'America, residing at Harrisburg, in the. county of Dauphin and TiState of Pennsylvania, have invented-certain newand useful Improvements in Linespacing Mechanism,

i of which the followingis a specification.

' This invention relates 'to linespacing mechanism for-typewriters and more par ticularly to typewriters of that class which includes a stationar flat platenand-down- Wardly acting printing mechanism mounted to travel over the platen for line spacing and letter spacing of the printed record. f An object of the invention'is the equipment of a typewriterwith' asimple and e cientline spacing mechanism capable of both fixed and universal line spacing and having practically all of 'its'component-e'lements assembled directly on the line'space shaft.

Another object is to' so organize the line space mechanism-that the principal elements of the latter may be assembled in rear of the line space frame and supported by the combination corner brackets of said frame, the line space key or handle being located V at the front of the frame and having operating connections extending therefrom to the elements assembled in rear of the frame.

Other objects'will appear as the description is developed.

succeeding I In the accompanying drawings Figure 1 is a plan view of a line space frame mounted on a subjacent track frame and equipped with line spacing mechanism [constructed in accordance'with my invention.

Fig.2 is aside elevation ,of aline spacing mechanism with the operating handle or key and. part of the line space rock shaft broken away. A

ig. 3 is a rear elevation f of the subjectmatter of Fig. 2.

Fi .4 is a sectional View through the right hand combination" bracket of the line space frame with the adjacent portion of the line space shaftin full lines and the associated elements of the line-spacing mechanism in see 1011. a

Fig. 5- i s a perspective view of a. P01171011 of the r1ght hand combination the mounting line space key.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Augx13, 1918. A lic tion filed December14, 1e14. seriaino. 877,214.

bracket with the rear line space bracket attached thereto. e v

Fig. 6 is a sectional view showing the connection between the-transfer armof the line:

spacedriver and the transfer plunger. T

Fig. 7 is'a detail perspective view of most of'the elements of theline spacemechanism, said elements being, grouped to indicate their relation but separated to detailed illustration. Y y Fig. 8 is a bottom plan view ofthe right handend of theline-space frame showing I 1 indicates a track frame; upon which is movable in the Proper direction for line spacing, a line space frame 2 comprising front and rear-members 3 and 4 and side members 5 and 6,, At the rear corners of the frame 2 are combination brackets '7 and 8 facilitate the of the line-drive shaft and the which constitute elementsof' the line space frame and. afford hearings or supportsfor several of the adjunctivemechanismsj of the typewriter.

The mechanism with whichweare directly. I

concerned at this time is the'line spacing. means which is that group of elements con? trolled by the operator. to efiect a forward or line space step by step advance .of the frame 2 on the track-frame 1. The primary element of this mechanism is what is known as the line space shaft 9 which, in the present' construction, .isaflorde'd hearings in the brackets 7 and 8 and is equipped with rear frame rollers 10- which. travel on the track frame, and line space pinions 11, the teeth i l of which engage toothed racks 12 on the trackframe. 'The rollers 10 and pinions 11.

withthe shaft 9 so that when said shaft '9 is rotated in themanner to behereinafter are fixedv in any suitable manner to rotate properly line space the record made by the I printing mechanism which, in this type of machines, is downwardly acting and is mounted on a carriage, indicated at C in Fig."

and also movable upon said frame to letter 9 space the writing stood in the art.

a ag ing'movable withthe line' Space r e 111 the direction of line spacing Y tion of a line space key or handle 13 located adjacent to the right hand front corner of the frame. This handle or key 13 is in the form of an arm extended from the line space driving shaft 14 having front and rear bearings 15 and 16, the bearing 16 being in the form of an extension of what may be termed a rear line space bracket 17 screwed or otherwise secured to the combination bracket 8. Adjacent to its rear end the shaft 14 is provided with an arm 18 upon which is imposed a plunger 19 mounted to reciprocate in a cylindrical plunger chamber 20 formed in the bracket 17 and downward or reciprocal movement of the arm 18 is limited by a stop 16 rejecting from the arm and engaging the Searing 16 and this reciprocal movement is assisted by a retracting spring 16 interposed between the hub of the arm 18 and the bearing 13. The plunger 19 underlies the rear end of a transfer arm 21 constantly urged downwardly by a spring 22 located within thechamber 20. (See Figs. 3, 4 and 8) The transfer arm 21 is fitted upon one flange 230i? a hub 24-haviug a second flange 25 upon which is fitted the driving arm 26.. The arms 21 and 26 and the hub 24 are designed to move together as a unit and oscillate about the line space shaft), being assembled on said shaft immediately adjacent to the right hand face of the combination bracket 8. At the outer end of the driving arm 28 is a laterally disposed pin 2? which engages the bifurcated upper end'28 of the line space pawl 29. lhe pawl 29 is fulcrumed upon a :Eulcrum screw 30 extended from a pawl carrier 31 in the form of an arm mounted to swing from the line space shaft 9 and disposed close against the "face of the driving arm 26, the pin 27 of which extends past the pawl carrier 31 to engage the notched or bifurcated end of the pawl,

as already stated and as clearly shown in Fig. 3. if desired, the fulcrum screw 30 may be surrounded by a wear sleeve 32, indicated in Fig. 7. The working face 33 of the line space pawl 29 is knurled to engage the knurled periphery of the line space wheel 34 secured to one flange 35 of a hub 36 keyed to the line space shaft 9 as by a pin 37 which passes through the opposite flange 38 on which is secured a collar 39. It will now be seen that the arm 21, hub 24 and arm 26 are rigidly connected to form a line space driver which rocks about the line space shait 9 as an axis and that the wheel 34, hub 36 and collar 39 are likewise fixedly connected, not only to each other but to the shaft 9 which is the primary driven element of the line spacing mechanism. It will also be seen that the pawl carrier 31 and the pawl 29 swing together from the shaft 9 and serve as an intermittently operative connection between the driving and driven structures. In the normal position ofthe line spacing pawl, the

naraeie line spacing wheel 34 is engaged. @n the contrary, the pawl is swung to its disengaged position where it is arrested. by a stop pin 40 extended from the pawl carrier 31 and engaging a coacting stop 41 on the pawl. The engagement-of the'line'space wheel by the pawl is efiected, however, by the initial movement of the driving arm 26, continued movement of which efiects' the line spacing movement of the wheel 34, shaft 9 and pins ions 11 to advance the line space frame 1 the distance between two lines of writing.

To insure the return of the pawl carrier 31 to normal position after each actuation thereof, it is provided with a retracting spring 42 having one end secured to the hub of the carrier 31 and its opposite end to a, relatively fixed, part, as shown in Figs. 2 and 4. Q

It is next in order to describe the means whereby the throw of the line space mechanism may be varied and the distance between the lines of writing thus regulated. This result is obtained by providing front and rear line space stops 43 and 44 between which the line space pawl operates and the distance between which may be varied to determine the extent of the line space movement. The front stop 43 is in the form of a pin projecting from the bracket 8 to engage either the pawl29, the pawl carrier 31 or both and the variation or adjustment of the line space mechanism is efiected by the adjustment of the rear stop 44. This stop is in the form of an arm adjustably mounted on a stop carrier 45 which also is in the form of an arm having a hub 46 which encircles the hub 36 but is movable thereon to allow the stop carrier to swing independently of the hub 36 and the shaft 9. The pivotal mounting of? the stop 44 on the carrier 45 includes a headed plunger barrel 4'? within which reciprocates a detent plunger 48 having an enlargement 49 backed by a spiral spring 50 surrounding the plunger and incased Within the barrel 47. The plunger 48 is normally urged by the spring 50 into engagement with one of a series of recesses or openings 51 in the line space bracket 17, these recesses being disposed in an arcuate series, as shown in Fig 2, to be engaged by the plunger 48 as the stop carrier 45 is swing to different positions and are spaced apart a sufficient distance to provide fixed or standard line spaces or intervals. The detent plunger 48 is ex tended beyond the barrel 4'? and is threaded for the attachment of a knurled head fitting over the end of the barrel and opposed to the outer face of the stop carrier. The spring 50 exerts a constant tension tending to draw the heads of the plunger barrel and plunger respectively against the outer faces of the stop carrier and stop. This grouping of the parts vastly simplifies this portion of the mechanism since the spring itself serves the purpose of both'urging the plunger to its engaging position and retaining the elements of this particular group in their assembled relation. In addition to the fixed or standard spacings, it is desirable to r provide for intermediate or what is known y made in the form-ofan arm and swings upon I besecured at any point between the limits of its swinging movement by .a locking screw;

. 53 passe'dthrough an arcuate slot 54 in the stop carrier-'45 and'into a threaded opening 55 'inthe stop 44: The screw 53 has aknurled as universal line spacing. Toaccomplish this result the stop 44 is mountedfor universal adju'stment upon, as'wcll as for standard or fixed adjustment with the-stop carrier 45. Itis for this reason that the stop;44 is the plunger barrel-47*ajs an-axis, theextreme end of the arm 44 constituting the stopproper disposed to be engaged by the pawl 29 upon the retraction ofthe latter. By swinging the stop arm 44, the eflective portion thereof is urged toward or fromthefpawl and:may

head as shown, which bears against the side of the stop carrier. as the stop isfs'ecurely drawn against the carrier andsecurely locked in .itsposition of intermediate adjustment.

Preparatory to beginning the work, the operator predetermines. the width ofthe-line spacing which, if standard, wide, :narrow or medium, can be secured by swinging the stop carrier-to one of the three standard -pQSitions of-adjustment. This is done by'idrawing back the plunger '48 frombn'eoffthe and the line space pinions 11 are fixed to the V shaft 9, rotation of the latter will advance openings 51 allowing the plunger to snap back into another opening after the, stop-car rier has been swung the desired distance.

If the linespacing desiredis not of standardtype, any variation can be accommodated by the individual adjustment of the stop 44ito:

efiect which the screw 53 is loosened, the stop swung on its carrier and the screw tightened again. The range of adjustment of the stop 44 is practically-equal to the distance between standard spacing so that a truly universal line .space adjustment can b'secured by the adjustment of. thestop-carrier or the stop or both. Having predetermined'the desired line space movement. of

the machine, the ,gperator, after writing, a 1 line, simply depresses the handle13 which rocks the shaft 14, swings the arms 18 and'21' ,upward against the res1stance of the spring 22 and thereby rocks the hub 24 and the drivinga-rm'26 on the shaft 9, The, first part of this movement of the driving arm-26 rocks. the pawl 29 into engagement with the periphery of the line space'wheel 34 and 1 continued movement of the arm rotates the" 60 wheel and with it the shaft 9. Since'the rear supporting rollers 10 of the line space frame the line space frame, the weight of the frame being supported by the rollers 10 and by thesprings 22 and-42until the line space pawl'com'es into contactfzwith and is arrested by the stop 44. The-elements of theline space mechanism Willfthen be in conditionfor a repetition 'of the described operation.

"It isth'oughtthat from-the foregoing the construction and operation of myline spac tions the :illustratedstructure as may ed claims.

whatl clei i s f 1. In-afmachi'ne of the classdescribed, the.

- ingmechan-is'in wiljl be clearly comprehended 'but I reservejtheiright toeffect such variaygo 1 'come fairly withinthe scope of the append combination with -a-- support and-{a 'liiie space 1 frame'mo'vable thereon, of a line space shaft extendedgaerossgthe rear z'o'f th'e'fraine, a line T' space drivingfsliaft extending along one side T f the meine: spacingmechanism as-. sembled on the line space Shaft,,a:COIll1QCt10I-1 between said-line spacing mechanism and,"

of theline spacef-rameb -vthe' rear end of the line space driving shaft, and. an-operating device carried by the 'linespace driving shaft and'located-at the front 2. The combination-with line space-:-

frame, 'ofa line space shaft, line space pin ions ca-'rried'by the shaft and line spacing? mechanism including, driving ;and .driven elements'both assembled on the shaft and "coacting' to rotatetheshaft tofefi'ect a line spacing movement of theframeya' movable I stop carrier supported from the shaft, and a stop mounted on the carrier and limiting the movement of the driving elements.

3. The combination. with: a line space frame, of a line-space shaft, means whereby the rotation of the line spaceshaft will ad vance the line space frame, a knurled line space wheel fixed to the shaft, a pawl disposed to engage the line space wheel, a pawl carrier mounted to swing from said shaft,

a driving arm also mounted to swing from said shaft and engaging the pawl, a stop car- 'rier' mounted to swingabout the shaft as an axis, means for retaining the stop carrier'in different positions, and a stop mounted on the carrier; and coacting with the pawl.

4 A line spacing mechanism including driving and driven elements, of means for limiting the movement of the driving element, said means including a stop carrier adjustable todifierent ositions and a stop mounted on and mova le with the carrier 1 and also adjustable to different positions on said carrier. i

5. In a line spacing mechanism, the combination with a linespacing wheel, a pawl carrier and a stop carrier both mounted to swing from the axis of the wheel, piv oted on the pawl carrier and disposed to en gage the periphery of the wheel, means for retaining the stop carrier in difierent posi tions, a stop in the form of a swinging arm mounted on the stop carrier and coasting with the pawl to determine the extent of movement thereof, and means for retaining the stop in its adjusted positions on the stop carrier.

6. The combination with a line space shaft and a line space drivin shaft disposed substantially at right ang es to each other, of an arm extended from the driving shaft, a transfer arm mounted to swing about the line space shaft, said arms being cooperatively related, the driving arm movable about the line space shaft with the transfer arm, a pawl carrier mounted to swing about the line space shaft, a pawl mounted on said carrier and engaged by the driving arm, a line space wheel fixed to the line space shaft and engaged by the pawl and relatively adjustzible stops for limiting the throw of the paw 4 7, In a line spacing mechanism including driving and driven members, a stop for determining the throw of the driving member, a stop carrier, a detent plunger for retaining the stop carrier in diilerent positions, and means for retaining the stop in different positions of adjustment on the stop carrier,

8, In a line space mechanism, the combination with driving and driven elements, of a stop carrier mounted to swing, a stop mounted to swing on the stop carrier, a detent plunger thr retaining the stop carrier in different positions, a barrel for said plunger, said barrel serving as a journal for the stop, and means for retaining the stop in different positions on the stop carrier.

9. In a line space mechanism, the combination of driving and driven elements, of a stop mechanism for determining the throw of the driving elements, said stop mechanism including a stop carrier mounted to swing, a headed plunger barrel passed through the stop carrier, a swinging stop on said shaft, a transfer arm and a driving arm both fixed to the hub to rotate therewith, a bracket afi'ording a bearing for the shaft and opposed to one end of the hub, a pawl carrier loosely mounted on the shaft and opposed to the other end of the hub, a second hub fixed to the shaft and opposed to the pawl carrier, a line space wheel fixed to the second hub, a pawl carried by the pawl carrier and operated by the driving arm to engage the line space wheel, a stop carrier mounted to swing on the second hub, means for adjustaloly securing the stop carrier to the bracket, a stop mounted on the stop carrier to engage the pawl, and a collar carried by the second huh and confining the stop carrier thereon,

11, The comlohiation with a line space frame, a pair of brackets at the rear side thereof, a line space shaft journals-d in the brackets, rollers and line space pinions carried loy the shaft, driving and driven eleill) ments both assembled on the shaft, a rear line space bracket detachahly secured to one of the brackets first named, a line space driving shat-t journaled in said bracket, an oper- 

